Sharp,
consistent pain blanketed her body. Fresh blood rose from the cuts
the trees that whipped out at her left behind. She cringed, murmuring
a scream as a startled animal flew out in front of her. What was that
smell? What was going on? Why couldn't she stop her legs?

She
reached out, trying to grab anything she could. Her cold hands
savagely scrapped at the bark of a tall pine tree. She screamed, her
hands notable to hold back the rest of her body. She just wanted to
stop. She wanted to stop moving.

More
animals came running towards her, getting faster and faster, and much
more persistent.

Her
bare feet were in excruciating pain, running hardly over the rocks
that peppered the forest floor. How much she longed for her slippers
at her room. Regal, squishy red ones, that her Father had given to
her to match her new sheets and curtains. She longed to be home,
sleeping peacefully, but instead, she was running out of control
at... what exactly was she running towards?

And
what was that smell?

The
rain pelted down on her, hard and chilled from the early spring
months. It made her thin silk nightgown cling mercilessly at her
body, revealing everything to the world. She didn't have a moment
to think about being seen. What would people think, seeing a near
naked princess running through the woods, her hair clinging to her
neck, with nothing on her feet?

And
then the source of the smell came into view. First, it was just the
flames. The yellow-red flames that licked the sky, the smoke blending
into the night sky, making the rain tainted as it fell. She found
herself screaming endlessly. Just screams. There was nothing else
that could come out of her. For a fearful second, she thought that
she was doing this to herself, but that didn't last. She knew it
wasn't her that was making her run... it was something bigger.

She
lunged her body at a tree, wrapping her arms around it. Her feet
scrambled below her, kicking and fighting, but sore and tense from
running. They needed to move. They needed to get her to that fire.

Her
arms gave out. She felt herself being pushed, almost like a big hand
on her back, shoving her into a group of children. Here, make some
friends.

She
panted, out of breathe, and breathing in rain and smoke. Her muscles
burned, and her body surged with adrenaline. She could see the fire
and ... the lake? The fire was on the lake?

The
smell of oil and gasoline were suddenly rich in the air. She started
to cough, and panic even more. The lake was on fire! It was the only
way to cross to get to the castle! She needed to get home.

She
continued running, until she broke out of the forest. The fire was so
close, she could feel it on her cheeks already. There was a sound of
rustling trees behind her, then shouts.

Someone
was shouting her name! They were coming for her!

As
soon as her toe touched the fire engulfed lake, there was a sensation
of life and death. She was a step away from both, and, unfortunately,
she had no choice in the matter.

Time
seemed to slow down. The flames slowed to a timid wave, and the
shouts seemed to be in slow motion. She closed her eyes preparing for
the worst and she lifted up her other foot, preparing to place it
into the water. She was inches away... inches away...

It
was so rough, it knocked the wind out of her, but she couldn't have
been more thankful. The strong arms had her gripped around her small
waist. Her legs flared in the air, longing to keep moving, but he
hoisted her up, and cradled her in his arms, holding her feet down.

She
gasped in a breathe, then another. She couldn't quite get enough.
The air, was there no oxygen left? Why...

Her
eyes blurred, and she felt like her head was spinning around. I'm
going to pass out!

She
fought back, gasping in more air, and tried to open her eyes, but the
smoke stung. It was so thick, and stunk of chemicals.

Her
neck toppled back, and she felt herself slipping away. Her head
flopped to his chest, and her legs stopped, only twitching slightly.
Her last thought was that she didn't even catch his name.

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